Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Reeves County, Trans-Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

TOP STORIES

January 29, 1998

PBT interviewing for head football coach

By JON FULBRIGHT
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
administrators are moving quickly to fill the vacant head
football coaching job, conducting interviews just one day
after the deadline for applications.

P-B-T superintendent Don Love, personnel director Gome
Olibas and athletic director Bubba Williams were busy today
interviewing five of the 10 candidates for the varsity job,
and have scheduled interviews with four of the other five
hopefuls on Friday.

Olibas' secretary, Frances Gomez, said Mike Ferrell, Randy
Hicks, Fernando Hernandez, Dan Swaim and John Barfield were
to be interviewed today, while Ronnie White, Steele Ewing,
Jerry Parent and the final person to submit and application,
Tony Matheson, will be interviewed tomorrow. Gomez added
that she was scheduled to talk to the 10th applicant, Manuel
Valles, this afternoon about setting up a Friday interview
time.

The head coaching job became open earlier this month, when
new P-B-T superintendent Don Love reassigned head coach and
athletic director Mike Belew to principal at Zavala Middle
School. Williams was named by Love as Belew's replacement as
athletic director at the time of the Jan. 6 reassignment.

Ferrell and Swaim are members of Belew's varsity staff, with
Swaim having served for two years and Ferrell last season,
after serving as junior varsity head coach in 1996. Parent
has been the longtime Zavala Middle School head coach while
Ewing served for 12 years as a junior high, sub-varsity and
varsity assistant coach for the Eagles.

White is currently coaching in the El Paso ISD; Hernandez is
coaching in Fabens; Barfield is teaching at Pecos High
School; and Hicks is the former Kermit Yellowjackets head
coach.

Valles, currently coaching in the Laredo ISD, returned his
application on Wednesday, while Matheson is currently in
Marfa, Gomez said.

After the interviews, Love, Olibas and Williams will make a
recommendation to P-B-T school board members, who will then
vote on their selection.

The coaching interviews is one of two major actions that
will affect the Eagles' football team over the next five
days. On Monday, the University Interscholastic League will
release its bi-annual realignment of schools in Texas.

The UIL has made no formal statement about Monday's 9 a.m.
announcement, but did say the number of Class 5A schools
would be cut from 229 to between 210 and 215 for the next
two years. However, based on area enrollment reports, it's
likely the Eagles will either remain in the current District
4-4A, with Monahans possibly replacing Sweetwater as its
sixth member, or Pecos, Monahans and Fort Stockton may be
paired with schools on the eastern side of El Paso to create
a new District 4-4A.

County joins in agreement for disaster aid

By RICK L. SMITH
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Reeves County has joined with
several other cities and counties in the area to provide
mutual aid in the event of a disaster affecting any of the
other members of the agreement.

"We have helped each other informally in the past, like when
the tornado hit Saragosa," said Reeves County Judge Jimmy
Galindo. "This agreement will just make mutual aid more
official."

Mutual aid between the participating cities and counties was
proposed because both natural and man-made disasters often
pose equipment and manpower demands beyond the capacity of
most individual cities or counties in the Permian Basin. In
the past cities and counties in the area have provided
assistance to each other during major disasters and
following cleanups. A formal agreement will allow for better
coordination of such efforts and ensure that adequate
equipment is available for emergencies in the shortest time
possible.

Members of the mutual aid agreement can receive aid from
other members whenever its governing body declares a local
disaster. However, if a city's or county's emergency
equipment and personnel is already tied up with a local
disaster that city or county is not required to send support
away from its own emergency, according to the agreement
approved by Reeves County Commissioners Monday.

In the event of a disaster a city or county can request
specific equipment and personnel and specify the location
where and when the equipment and personnel will be
dispatched. Also, such a request must include who is in
charge of the incident and shall provide procedures for
immediate communication wit the officer in charge. However,
the entity supplying the personnel or equipment can
determine how much equipment and personnel it will send.

The city or county providing aid will appoint an Incident
Commander Officer in charge of the personnel and equipment
from the responding entity.

In addition, the city or county requesting aid will be
responsible for any civil liability that arises from the
incident.

"This agreement is necessary if someone is hurt," said
Commissioner Felipe Arredondo. "It is better for those who
help."

If federal funding becomes available as a result of a
disaster any responding entities are eligible for
reimbursement of expenses incurred in helping with the
incident. Otherwise, a responding entity shall be reimbursed
by the requesting entity for costs incurred in furnishing
disaster aid.

Any city or county participating in the mutual aid agreement
can drop out of the agreement with a 90 day written notice.

Police find heroin packaging paraphernalia

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - A local woman was arrested
yesterday afternoon when officers from the Pecos Police
Department and the Reeves County Sheriff's Department
executed a narcotics search warrant at 702 South Almond
Street, according to Narcotics Investigator Paul Deishler.

When the search warrant was executed shortly after 4 p.m.
officers found paraphernalia that is used to package heroin.

Jessica Montgomery, 47, was arrested for possession of drug
paraphernalia and was transported to the Reeves County Jail,
according to Deishler. He said that other charges may also
be pending against Montgomery, but could not specify what
those charges might be.

Deishler said that the narcotics team executed another
search warrant yesterday at around 9 p.m. at 915 South Elm,
but no arrests were made because no narcotics were found.

Student arrested for weapon possession

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - A Crockett Middle School student
was arrested last Friday for possession of "brass knuckles"
at the school.

The arrest occured at 9:18 a.m. Jan. 23 and the male
juvenile was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon,
according to Pecos Police reports.

The weapon the student had was "knuckles," commonly referred
to as "brass knuckles," but in this case the weapon was not
made out of brass, according to a Pecos police sergeant who
read the report on the case.

An unidentified teacher discovered that the student had the
weapon at school and school officials had possession of the
weapon by the time a police officer arrived at the campus.

Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD officials would not comment on the
case.

Salgado performs Friday

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - A West Texas native will be in
Pecos to perform on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Riverside
Ballroom.

Michael Salgado and his band will begin playing at 8 p.m.
and the dance will continue until 2 a.m.

The group will also be at McDonald's signing autographs from
5-6 p.m. on Friday.

Salgado rose to the top in Tejano and Conjunto music, with
his hit single, "Cruz de Madera" and won the Male Vocalist
of the Year Award last year.

In an interview with Tejano Wave magazine, Salgado said, "I
have to thank God, my father, my family and my record label
Joey Records International for the promotion and above all
thank my fans for their support. There were other talented
artists and good bands in the same category, we will always
remember the support that we received that night."

Salgado plays both Conjunto and Tejano music and has
recently released a record in honor of his idol, Cornelio
Reyna who died recently.

He was named top vocalist by Billboard Hot Latin Charts.

PBT warns parents about infectious disease

By ROSIE FLORES
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD officials
are warning parents about an infectious disease affecting
children in the district.

"We have been sending out information on this and warning
parents to watch their children for the symptoms," said
PBT-ISD Nurse Mary Sanders.

Erythema infectiosum is a common disease of school children
characterized by a red rash on the cheeks followed by a lacy
rash on the arms and legs. It usually causes very little
illness although adolescents sometimes have mild joint pains
or swelling. Erythema infectiosum was given the name "fifth
disease" because it was the fifth of the childhood rashes
(measles, German measles, etc.) to be described.

The disease is caused by parvovirus B19. It is spread by
direct contact with infected mucus from the nose or mouth or
by inhaling droplets coughed or sneezed into the air.
Illness starts from four to 18 days after exposure.

Because of the close and prolonged contact between students,
epidemics of fifth disease are common in primary schools and
academies.

"In Pecos Kindergarten there are about 35 cases that have
been reported and probably more than were not," said Sanders.

About 60 cases were reported at Bessie Haynes Elementary and
Sanders stated that other school districts are probably
experiencing the same problem.

"Of course, there are some cases that go unreported," she
said.

Fifth disease rash sometimes begins with no illness at all
but usually starts with three or four days of low-grade
fever and symptoms of a mild cold. This is followed in seven
to 10 days by the appearance of a bright red, raised rash
which covers the cheeks, making them look as if they had
been slapped. The area around the mouth is usually not
involved.

After another one to three days, a pink, blotchy and often
itchy rash appears on the upper part of the arms and legs,
spreading to the trunk and buttocks. As it fades, the rash
develops a "lace-like" or "net-like" appearance which can
last for five to 10 days. Once cleared, it may reappear for
several weeks or months if the skin becomes flushed from
exercise, sunlight or a warm bath.

Young adults with parvovirus infection can have mild joint
pains and swelling (arthritis), often without a rash. The
hands, knees and wrists are most commonly affected.
Discomfort lasts from a few days to several months. There is
no permanent joint damage.

There are no complications from infection in a normal child.
Children with blood problems such sickle cell disease and
those with certain cancers or on chemotherapy can develop
severe anemia, usually without a rash. Infection in pregnant
women can cause spontaneous abortion or anemia in the unborn
baby.

"This is very important, that these people be more
cautious," said Sanders. "There is no medical treatment for
fifth disease," she said.

Most children with erythema infectiosum do not need
medication or a change in diet.

The disease remains contagious from two weeks to three days
before appearance of the rash (or joint pains). Children
usually feel perfectly well or have only a mild illness at
this time and continue to play with other children. Thus,
little can be done to stop the spread of this infection.
Children are no longer contagious and do not need to be
excluded from school once the rash occurs.

Pregnant women in contact with an infected child between
three days and two weeks before the rash should speak with
their doctor. Blood tests to check for immunity or infection
are available. Fortunately, most adults have had parvovirus
infection during childhood and are no longer at risk of
catching the illness.

"We've also been having a lot of stomach viruses, but
nothing real serious," said Sanders.

District judges sued for more than 1 million

By PEGGY McCRACKEN
Staff Writer

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - Pecos County is off the hook, but
two state district judges face a wrongful termination suit
filed by the former Pecos County auditor. Senior Judge
Lucius Bunton has set docket call and jury selection for 9
a.m. Monday in Pecos federal court.

Bettye Warnock claims in the suit that 83rd District Judge
Alex Gonzales and 112th District Judge Brock Jones violated
her First Amendment rights when they failed to re-appoint
her as auditor March 5, 1993.

The two judges had appointed Warnock to a two-year term in
March, 1991. Both said they declined to re-appoint her for a
second term because of her inability to work with officials
and her attempts to further her personal agendas.

In the suit, Warnock lists 48 reports she made to
commissioners court, the judges, other officials and/or
employees alleging violations of state law, aldministrative
regulations and county policies and ordinancess.

She claims those are the real reasons the judges terminated
her employment. In addition to re-instatement or front pay,
Warnock seeks $500,000 for past and future emotional
distress, $500,000 in punitive damages, back pay and
benefits and attorney fees.

Senior Judge Lucius Bunton granted a motion to dismiss Pecos
County from the suit because they had earlier won a summary
judgment in a similar suit filed in 147th District Court in
Travis County. They could not be sued a second time, he said.

In his pre-trial deposition, Judge Jones said there were
several reasons he did not want to re-appoint Warnock:

"First, when Bettye first talked to me about taking the
position, she acknowledged to me that her husband, former
County Judge Charlie Warnock, was a controversial figure
(his failure to render even the most minimal due process in
criminal cases was publicized state-wide and many of his
judicial actions were overturned...) and had political
problems, but she assured me that his problenms were not
hers and that his problems would not affect the way she did
her job.

"However, it was my experience that Mrs. Warnock, once in
office, did use her official position to further her
personal agenda..."

Melissa Hirsch represents Warnock, while the state attorney
general's office represents the judges.

Also on the docket is one criminal case and one sentencing.

WEATHER

PECOS, January 29, 1998 - High Wednesday, 73, low this
morning, 32. A weak cold front may trigger some showers
along the Texas coast through tonight, but the pleasant,
unseasonably warm weather will continue across the state
through Friday. The front was located in central portions of
North Texas early today. West Texas will have mostly sunny
days and fair nights. Lows tonight will be in the 20s and
30s in West Texas. Highs Friday should be in the 60s and 70s.